The Civic Scribe: Articles & Poems

BANJUL, The Gambia—Last March, Gambians witnessed a quiet assault on their democracy. As parliament debated a critical elections bill, it erased a Supreme Court-backed guarantee of diaspora voting rights. Now, tens of thousands of citizens abroad—whose remittances fuel 20% of the economy—face an impossible choice: financial ruin or democratic exile. They must now spend exorbitant sums to travel home simply to vote. This betrayal is not an anomaly. It reveals how The Gambia’s electoral justice system, with its seemingly fair rules, is being hollowed out from within.

The Illusion of “50% + 1”

The presidential election threshold—requiring a candidate to win over 50% of votes—was meant to ensure broad legitimacy. In principle, it prevents narrow victories and fosters unity. Yet this promise shatters when the referee lacks independence.

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), guardian of electoral integrity, remains tethered to executive influence. Commissioners are handpicked by the president after superficial consultations. Terms may stretch seven years, but vague removal rules invite political pressure. Born under military rule in 1997, the IEC has never fully escaped its autocratic origins.

Without true autonomy, the 50% + 1 rule risks becoming a weapon. A commission seen as aligned with power cannot fairly adjudicate close races—precisely when impartiality matters most.

A Chair, a President, and a Crisis of Confidence

Nothing captures the IEC’s compromised posture more starkly than its chairman accompanying the sitting president to cast his ballot. This recurring spectacle—akin to the U.S. Federal Election Commission chief escorting a candidate into a booth—telegraphs alignment, not neutrality.

In a nation healing from 22 years of dictatorship, where elections were mere facades, such symbolism poisons trust. It whispers that the IEC serves the incumbent, not the people.

Disenfranchisement by Design

The diaspora debacle reflects systemic exclusion:
The constitution guarantees all citizens the right to vote. Yet by dismantling diaspora voting, parliament defied its supreme law. The IEC could create overseas voting mechanisms today but refuses to act. Meanwhile, The Gambia clings to an archaic 1960s token-based voting system designed for an illiterate electorate—a metaphor for institutional inertia.

Reclaiming Legitimacy

The path forward is clear:
First, insulate the IEC. Appointment of commissioners must require cross-party consensus. Commissioners should be barred from public interactions with candidates during elections.
Second, honor the diaspora. Implement the Supreme Court’s ruling now. Use embassies as registration hubs—a simple, low-cost solution.
Third, modernize voting. Replace token-based systems with secure, accessible methods to reduce disputes.

Democracy on the Brink

When electoral bodies lack credibility, losers reject results. When citizens are disenfranchised, they reject democracy. With 2026 elections looming, The Gambia faces a pivotal test: Will it cement its democratic rebirth or backslide into contested legitimacy?

The world once cheered Gambians for toppling a dictator. Today, as rights vanish and the IEC walks arm-in-arm with power, that triumph feels fragile. A 50% + 1 threshold means nothing if the process isn’t trusted. And trust, once broken, is the hardest thing to restore.